Yoru didn't plan on it but to sleep probably meant death.
Although he couldn't see in the dark he could still feel Sunny's lethal gaze penetrate his very being, radiating nothing but killing intent.
Definitely, if he valued his life, sleep was not an option.
The two sat there in silence for a while, neither of them wishing to talk. One out of fear and the other out of hate.
Eventually, Yoru mustered enough courage and hesitantly spoke:
"Hey... just so you know. It would be unwise to kill me. Since, thanks to my aspect, we don't have to worry about food or water."
"I could just eat your remains."
"..."
"Uh... still, you should try and get some
sleep."
"You first."
"..."
The rest of the night went much like that.
***
Yoru waited.
He sat still, spear in hand, watching the horizon. Waiting for the false sun to rise and the dark sea to recede.
And eventually, slowly, the first pale line of light broke over the horizon and the churning of the black water began to shift. Yoru slowly stood from his seat and carefully approached the edge.
It was true that the black tide was retreating but as more and more of its mass vanished, the things that lurked beneath its waves revealed themselves. Yoru saw the infamous crimson coral that belonged to the Forgotten shore, it coated the world in shades of scarlet - mountains of it, spires of it, twisting and curling like the ribs of some ancient leviathan. Some formations rose like pillars to the sky; others clung to each other in jagged arcs, forming bridges and colossal arches. The coral encroached upon the land and grew into every crevice like some inevitable plague. It truly looked more like an invasion than some natural growth.
Of course, Yoru knew that the coral wasn't some rotten plague but actually the blood of a long dead unholy being. Knowledge which, unfortunately, made the landscape much more harrowing.
Then his gaze landed on the horrid crustaceans that were climbing out from under the mud.
They had four pairs of long, segmented legs that ended in scythe-like protrusions. At the front, a human-like torso was protruding from the carapace, also clad in thick chitinous Armor.The head, if it was even the appropriate word, was situated directly on top of the torso, with no neck in between. It had two narrow eye slits and a vicious-looking mouth with several slimy mandibles.
Instead of hands, the monsters had two enormous pincers.
Upon seeing them, Yoru gulped and stealthily backed away from the edge. returning to the nurturing embrace of his not-so opulent chair.
"I'm going to send my shadow down to scout. If you'd like to climb down yourself then be my guest."
At Sunny's command, the shadow detached itself from him and flowed over the ground like black water, slipping swiftly down the statue's side.
Yoru had no intentions of climbing down the statue and so remained seated. Sunny having his shadow scout for them was the only sensible option since navigating the coral labyrinth was an arduous task, not to mention avoiding its horrible residents which roamed within.
After a while Sunny exhaled sharply.
"Firstly, the coral is almost impossible to navigate. Just looking at it hurts my head. Secondly… we're not alone down there. Some crab-like abominations are crawling around deeper in the maze. They're busy eating that shark bastard from last night."
"That sounds lovely. What do you think we should do?"
Sunny took a moment and then said:
"I think we should stay up here for a couple days. If my shadow can scout out more of this place then we should be able to plot the safest route and find a gateway pretty soon.
Our only issue is food... you mentioned your aspect not letting us starve. How?"
Yoru snapped his fingers. A strip of jerky shimmered into existence.
Sunny's eyes locked on to it with a predatory gleam.
"...So you are useful."
"Just take the damn jerky."
Sunny snatched it immediately.
"I never questioned it before, but I'm guessing you summoned your clothes and that chair the same way?"
Yoru nodded. Now seemed like the right time to explain his aspect as well as what memories and attributes he possessed. After all, if they were to survive in this place together, it was better that Sunny knew what he could - and couldn't do.
After he finished, Sunny sat back in a conjured chair identical to Yoru's. He fell silent, clearly deep in thought.
"Neither of us have proper weapon Memories," Sunny said finally. "And that spear in your hands might as well be a toothpick in front of a Nightmare Creature. You're also lacking armour. It's almost laughable how cocky you were in the academy. How exactly were you planning to survive?"
Truthfully, even Yoru didn't know. His soul arsenal was pathetic. His spear skill barely above a novice's. If he had appeared anywhere else in the Dream Realm, alone… he would already be dead.
He shrugged.
"I guess we'll never know."
Sunny gave him a long, scrutinizing stare before letting it go.
"It's good we don't have to climb down for food. But that doesn't fix our real problem."
Yoru knew what he meant.
"We're stuck in a region neither of us recognise, with no signs of people or a gateway, surrounded by an innumerable amount of horrors… Yes. Things look dire."
Silence settled again.
Yoru's priority was clear: find Nephis and Cassie. If he could gather the cohort, they could begin the expedition toward the Dark City.
But he had no idea where they were.
In the novel, Sunny had seen a faint orange light on a distant hill. The trouble was… there were many hills. Too many. And convincing Sunny to venture toward one without evidence was a tall order to say the least.
So they waited.
Sunny had to see the light for himself and then they would decide in the morning to make the trip or not.
***
Night fell. The Dark Sea returned.
Despite the importance of staying awake, Yoru eventually succumbed to exhaustion. He'd been too afraid to sleep the previous night - understandably. Not long after drifting off, Sunny nudged him awake.
"Look."
Yoru sat up, bleary-eyed, and followed the direction Sunny pointed.
Squinting his eyes, Yoru looked ahead and saw the faint shimmering of an orange light a few kilometres out. Its reflections were rising and falling with the movement of waves.
He felt elation at the sight and just barely managed to suppress a grin.
'Found you.'
"What do you think it is?" Yoru asked, masking his satisfaction.
Sunny stared at the light, frowning.
"Other Sleepers? Some natural phenomenon? Or a monster laying a trap. I don't know - it could be anything."
Yoru nodded but said nothing more, laying back down to sleep. He would let Sunny draw his own conclusions.
***
"We should head towards the light we saw."
Sunny spoke as soon as dawn broke, standing at the platform's far edge and staring toward the distant hill.
"I agree. Considering our circumstances, it's our best shot at a change. And if those Nightmare creatures are still busy with their meal, we should head out tomorrow… or the day after."
Sunny raised an eyebrow at him.
"We surprisingly have a similar train of thought."
Yoru opened his mouth to reply, but Sunny lifted a hand sharply.
"Don't say anything. I can already tell I won't like the next words out of your mouth."
Yoru shut his mouth with a defeated sigh.
Sunny ignored him and once again sent his shadow down to chart their course towards the hill.
By the time the false sun began its descent, Sunny had mapped at least the first stretch of their journey.
"We can make it," he finally said. "It'll be miserable. But possible."
"But you're a miserable person... is that not the norm?"
Sunny squinted at him.
"…I said don't talk."
***
In the night, a sudden storm descended upon the dark sea. Pitch-black waves smashed against the statue, spraying freezing water high into the air. Yoru's beloved chairs were violently thrown into the abyss, never to be seen again.
The wind howled like a living thing, tearing at their clothes. Water hammered the platform relentlessly. One especially violent surge struck the statue's base and sent a sharp vibration up through the stone - hard enough to rattle their bones.
Both of the young sleepers clung to the platforms groves with everything they had.
By morning, once the storm had dissipated, Both of their muscles were sore.
But there was no time to waste.
Their journey had to begin.